Introduction to Immunology Flashcards
Define Immunology
Study of the immune system
Define Clinical Immunology (What is the importance of the word Clinical?)
Function of the human immune system (Clinical = people)
What is Immunity?
Desirable state of protection against pathogens
What are the four key features of an effective immune response?
Recognition
Specificity
Response
Memory
Are viruses intracellular or extracellular pathogens?
Intracellular
Are bacteria intracellular or extracellular pathogens?
Intracellular + Extracellular
Are fungi intracellular or extracellular pathogens?
Extracellular (CHECK)
Are parasites intracellular or extracellular pathogens?
Extracellular (CHECK)
How are pathogens recognised as different or non-self?
By possession of antigens, macromolecules structurally different to those of human host
By molecular hallmarks of infection not present in healthy cells (Pathogen Associated Molecular Patterns (PAMPs)
CHECK
Give an example of a molecular hallmark of infection not present in healthy cells
Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in gram negative bacteria
What is an antigen?
Any foreign molecule specifically recognised by lymphocytes and elicits a response from them
Give a general description for what phagocytes are
Cells that recognise, engulf and destroy microbes by phagocytosis after they have been marked for destruction by opsons (opsonisation)
Microbes are marked for destruction via by phagocytosis by what? What is this process called?
Opsons (process is opsonisation)
What are naïve cells?
Naïve cells are T cells that have not yet
been stimulated (has not encountered its
corresponding antigens yet)
What do plasma cells have lots of?
Protein, for antibody production
